Committee: Annual Conference Committee (ACC)
Position: Poster Chair
Term Dates: January 1, 2025-June 30, 2026
The Annual Conference Committee provides oversight of the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo. They decide on the content of the conference, including both concurrent sessions and poster fairs. The Poster Chair on the committee is responsible for the development and oversight of the 2026 annual conference poster fairs. This position reports to the chair of the ACC and is a member of the ACC Executive Team, as well as the full ACC. In total, this is a one-and-a-half-year commitment.
Position updated August 2024
NAFSA is not currently accepting applications for this position. Visit NAFSA Volunteer Leadership to learn about available opportunities.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
- Think strategically about the role of the poster fairs at the NAFSA annual conference, and select poster fair themes that fit the conference theme and meet the professional development needs of NAFSA's audience.
- Assist in poster presenter preparation and training.
- Work closely with NAFSA staff to develop promotional materials for the fairs, coordinate the fairs, and enhance the poster fair attendee and poster presenter experience.
- Contribute to the overarching creation of a comprehensive and cutting-edge program for the annual conference.
- Recruit, train, and lead a team of volunteer Poster Fair Organizers who help solicit poster proposals, review the proposals, and prepare the accepted poster presenters.
- Solicit and review proposals for poster fairs alongside Poster Fair Organizers.
Commitment
Volunteer Commitment:
- Appointed in November 2024 and begin in January 2025. The term lasts 18 months and ends after the annual conference in 2026.
- Attend the virtual Winter Leadership Meeting (virtual) in early 2025, the in-person ACC meeting in October 2025, the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference, and the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference.
- Participate in twice-monthly conference calls during the 18-month period.
- Work closely with the senior director and program manager of NAFSA conference program staff.
- Meet deadline targets and respond to phone calls and email correspondence in a timely manner.
- Attend leadership meetings at NAFSA annual conferences when possible, and commit to visibility and engagement during events and activities.
- In general, the time requirement is two hours per week, except during specific periods such as the month-long proposal review and rating process in the winter.
Expense Reimbursement:
- Travel and expenses are reimbursed for attendance at the ACC fall meeting.
- Annual conference registration fees are waived for the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo.
Qualifications
- NAFSA membership for the full volunteer term.
- Ability and willingness to serve and travel to conferences and meetings
- Understanding of NAFSA annual conference programs, services, and attendees, gained through attendance at three or more NAFSA annual conferences
- Broad knowledge of the professional needs of international educators
- Enthusiasm and ability to mobilize colleagues
- Cooperative team player with strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills
- Demonstrated strategic planning, management, networking, and delegation experience
- Understanding of NAFSA, its leadership structure, and its organization-wide perspectives and strategic priorities
- Ability to manage unconscious bias in the assessment and decision-making processes
